Systems and methods for gated media access based on collections of unique digital articles

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods to providing gated media access based on collections and/or combinations of unique digital articles in an online gaming platform are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may execute instances of a game; manage user accounts associated with the users, including a first and a second user account associated with a first and a second user; receive, from the first user, a first access request to access particular media content, wherein the access requires ownership of a first and a second (type of) unique digital article (as recorded on an immutable ledger); permit the first access request (and other similar requests) as long as the first user is the registered owner of the first and second (type of) unique digital articles.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods to gated mediaaccess based on collections and/or combinations of unique digitalarticles.

BACKGROUND

Online gaming platforms are known. Distributed ledgers are knowntechniques to produce a secure record or registry of ownership ofarticles, transactions, and other information. Many types of digitalarticles are known.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system configured toprovide gated media access, based on collections of unique digitalarticles. The system may include one or more processors configured bymachine-readable instructions. The system may be configured to executeinstances of a game. The system may be configured to manage useraccounts associated with the users, including a first user accountassociated with a first user, wherein a first account inventory includesa first and a second unique digital article. The system may beconfigured to receive, from the first user, a first access request toaccess particular media content, wherein the access requires ownershipof the first and second unique digital articles (or those types ofarticles, as recorded on an immutable ledger). The system may beconfigured to permit the first access request (and other similarrequests) as long as the first user is the registered owner of the firstand second unique digital articles (or those types of articles).

Another aspect of the present disclosure related to a method ofproviding gated media access based on collections of unique digitalarticles in an online gaming platform. The method may include executinginstances of a game. The method may include managing user accountsassociated with the users, including a first user account associatedwith a first user, wherein a first account inventory includes a firstand a second unique digital article. The method may include receiving,from the first user, a first access request to access particular mediacontent, wherein the access requires ownership of the first and secondunique digital articles (or those types of articles, as recorded on animmutable ledger). The method may include permitting the first accessrequest (and other similar requests) as long as the first user is theregistered owner of the first and second unique digital articles (orthose types of articles).

As used herein, any association (or relation, or reflection, orindication, or correspondency, or correlation) involving servers,processors, client computing platforms, users, user accounts,inventories, articles, articles, requests, manners of usage, exchanges,challenges, offers, transactions, in-game actions, rights, benefits,ownership, immutable ledgers, responses, denials, contracts, metrics,metric values, scores, gains, trigger events, incentives, proposals,sets of instructions, operations, determinations, distributions,transfers, presentations, interfaces, notifications, and/or anotherentity or object that interacts with any part of the system and/or playsa part in the operation of the system, may be a one-to-one association,a one-to-many association, a many-to-one association, and/or amany-to-many association or “N”-to-“M” association (note that “N” and“M” may be different numbers greater than 1).

As used herein, the term “obtain” (and derivatives thereof) may includeactive and/or passive retrieval, determination, derivation, transfer,upload, download, submission, and/or exchange of information, and/or anycombination thereof. As used herein, the term “effectuate” (andderivatives thereof) may include active and/or passive causation of anyeffect, both local and remote. As used herein, the term “determine” (andderivatives thereof) may include measure, calculate, compute, estimate,approximate, generate, and/or otherwise derive, and/or any combinationthereof.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of ‘a’, ‘an’,and ‘the’ include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to provide gated media access,based on collections of unique digital articles, in accordance with oneor more implementations.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for providing gated media access, based oncollections of unique digital articles, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate example implementations of user interfaces, as maybe used by a system configured to provide gated media access, based oncollections of unique digital articles, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrates exemplary blockchains, as may be used by asystem configured to provide gated media access, based on collections ofunique digital articles, in accordance with one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to provide gated media access105, based on collections of unique digital articles, in accordance withone or more implementations. As used herein, the term “unique digitalarticle” may refer to digital articles that are uniquely identifiedand/or uniquely identifiable, e.g., by an identifier or by identifyinginformation. For example, in some implementations, an identifier oridentifying information may include or be based on a combination ofdifferent types of information, including but not limited to informationregarding the type of a digital article, a serial number or othernumerical identifier of the digital article, and/or other types ofinformation. As used herein, ownership of unique digital articles may betracked, recorded, and/or otherwise registered on one or more immutableledgers. As such, a unique digital article may be a ledger-trackedunique digital article.

Individual unique digital articles may be associated and/or correlatedwith another entity (which may be referred to as a “correlated entity”)by virtue of technology provided and/or supported by the one or moreimmutable ledgers on which the ownership of the individual uniquedigital articles is tracked (including but not limited to smartcontracts and/or other executable code on the one or more immutableledgers). Accordingly, ownership of a unique digital article maycorrelate to the provision of one or more rights with respect to thecorrelated entity (e.g., control and/or other rights). Transactionsinvolving a unique digital article recorded on an immutable ledger maycorrelate to certain transactions (or modifications) of the correlatedentity, and/or vice versa.

In some implementations, correlated entities may be (or include) virtualitems configured to be used within online-gaming platform 105 (such as,for example, a user-controllable in-game virtual character that isusable within an instance of a game within online gaming platform 105).Other types and/or combinations of correlated entities are envisionedwithin the scope of this disclosure, including but not limited tophysical and/or virtual objects, items, rights, memberships,permissions, etc. The use of the singular “entity” or “correlatedentity” is not intended to be limiting, as multiple different objects,items, rights, memberships, permissions, etc. may be correlated to asingle unique digital article. By way of non-limiting example, acorrelated entity may be an art work, a ticket to an event, asubscription to certain media content, a bundle of rights related tocaptured audio and/or video information, rights to distribution gains,and so forth. As used herein, the term “non-fungible token” or “NFT” maybe used to refer to a combination of a particular unique digital articleand a particular correlated entity that is correlated to the particularunique digital article.

System 100 may include one or more online gaming platforms 105,immutable ledger server(s) 111, administration server(s) 115, mediaserver(s) 119, client computing platform(s) 104, user interface(s) 125,server(s) 102, external resource(s) 138, and/or other components. Users123 (also referred to as players) may include one or more of a firstuser, a second user, a third user, a fourth user, an administrativeuser, and/or other users. Users 123 may include players who play and/orotherwise interact on online gaming platform 105. As used indescriptions herein, any use of the term “user” may refer to user(s)123. Electronic storage 130 a, electronic storage 130 b, and electronicstorage 130 c may be similar to electronic storage 130 as describedelsewhere in this disclosure, though included in administration servers115, immutable ledger servers 111, and media servers 119, respectively,as depicted in FIG. 1.

Instances of games may be executed within one or more online gamingplatforms 105. As used herein, online gaming platform 105 may refer toeither an individual game (e.g., an interactive online game), a type ofgaming console and its ecosystem, and/or both. Online gaming platform105 may be configured to host (and/or execute instances of) the one ormore (online) games. Online gaming platform 105 may be operated, hosted,and/or owned by one or more stakeholders of online gaming platform 105.For example, a platform operator (and/or another stakeholder) may sellin-game digital items (e.g., characters, weapons, resources, etc.) tousers 123 of online gaming platform 105.

Referring to the game and to online gaming platform 105, in someimplementations, individual players may own and/or control individualunique digital articles, correlated entities, and/or other virtualitems, and exchange these with (or to) other individual players. As usedherein, exchanges refer to individual players winning, losing,auctioning, selling, purchasing, trading, bartering, wagering, staking,and/or otherwise exchanging virtual items (directly, without a store orstore interface under control of online gaming platform 105) to otherindividual players or with other individual players (includingexchanging virtual items through player-to-player challenges). Due to anexchange, ownership rights of a digital article may transition from anoriginal owner to a new owner (even if there may, in someimplementations, be one or more intermediary and/or temporary ownersduring the process of performing the exchange). In some implementations,unique digital articles may be associated and/or correlated with otherrights than ownership rights, such as, by way of non-limiting example,distribution rights.

In some implementations, distribution rights of (unique) digitalarticles may reflect rights held by the individual ones of the users toreceive certain distributions of benefits upon exchanges involving theparticular digital articles. That is, the individual users may own/holdrights to particular digital articles that guarantee them benefits upon(future) exchanges involving those digital articles regardless ofwhether the individual users own/hold the ownership rights for thosedigital articles. In some implementations, the distribution gains mayresult from a particular action or activity (such as, e.g., a sale of aparticular digital article), e.g., within the online gaming platform105, of a particular digital article. As used herein, a distributiongain resulting from a particular action or activity may include one ormore of a portion of the proceeds of the particular action or activity,a fee related to the particular action or activity, a minimum paymenttriggered by the occurrence of the particular action or activity (or aset of particular actions or activities), and/or another arrangement forpayment and/or compensation, including but not limited to combinationsof fixed fees, minimum fees, percentages of sales, percentages ofprofits, and/or other arrangements. The term “portion” does not imply orrequire a percentage or ratio, but rather is intended to signify thatbeneficiaries (i.e., the users that hold the distribution rights) mayreceive something of value and/or use. The distribution gains mayinclude one or more virtual currencies such as virtual tokens, virtualstars, virtual points, virtual real-world currencies (e.g., US Dollars),and/or other gains that are based on the particular digital articles.

In some implementations, unique digital articles, correlated entities,and/or other virtual items may include and/or be virtual items that arenot fungible and may be usable within an online gaming platform 105. Insome implementations, these may represent (three-dimensional) in-gameuser-controllable characters that can interact with other (in-game)virtual items within online gaming platform 105. In someimplementations, virtual items may include one or more of weapons, toys,characters, abilities, skills, tools, pets, clothing, vehicles, gamelevels, missions, assignments, chapters, tasks, mini-games, restrictedareas within a virtual space, restricted modes of gameplay, accessrights within an online game, and/or other virtual items. In someimplementations, virtual items may refer to any item or object withinonline gaming platform 105 for which a user may use, own, sell, trade,destroy, and/or otherwise effectuate a change of ownership or control(including exchanging through challenges).

As used herein, a digital article is fungible if it is functionallyand/or physically indistinguishable from another digital article. Forexample, a payment token such as a Bitcoin is fungible. A digitalarticle may be non-fungible if it is unique, or one-of-a-kind. Forexample, a specific individual CryptoKitty™ may be non-fungible. Adigital article may be semi-fungible if there is a set of a limitednumber of similar but distinguishable digital articles. For example, alimited-edition Blanko™ or another in-game character may besemi-fungible. For example, one of a limited number of 2-dimensional or3-dimensional in-game virtual items may be semi-fungible. For example, adigital ticket to a show, concert, exhibition, and/or other event may besemi-fungible. For example, a piece of art or jewelry (e.g., as avirtual item or as representing a physical item) may be semi-fungible.As used herein, semi-fungible digital articles are considered as unique,“not fungible”, or non-fungible digital articles. In someimplementations, digital articles may be usable within one or moregames.

Immutable ledger server(s) 111 (e.g., immutable ledger server 111 a,immutable ledger server 111 b, and so forth) may be used to implementone or more immutable ledgers, including but not limited to blockchain117 a, blockchain 117 b (partially visible in FIG. 1), and so forth. Insome implementations, one or more immutable ledgers may be decentralizedledgers. In some implementations, blockchain 117 a and blockchain 117 bmay be maintained by distributed computing platforms (not shown in FIG.1). In some implementations, a distributed computing platform may beimplemented by a set of client computing platforms and/or servers(including, for example, one or more immutable ledger servers 111). Thedistributed computing platform may support a virtual machine (not shownin FIG. 1). The distributed computing platform and/or the virtualmachine may form a runtime environment for smart contracts and/or otherexecutable code. A distributed computing platform may include electronicstorage configured to store part or all of blockchain 117 a. Forexample, the smart contracts may be stored on blockchain 117 a,blockchain 117 b, and/or another immutable ledger. In someimplementations, the distributed computing platform may be the EOSIOplatform. In some implementations, the distributed computing platformmay be similar to or based on the EOSIO platform. In someimplementations, the distributed computing platform may be Ethereum. Insome implementations, the distributed computing platform may be similarto or based on Ethereum. In some implementations, the virtual machinemay be a decentralized virtual machine.

In some implementations, at least one of the immutable ledgersimplemented by immutable ledger servers 111 is a private permissionedimmutable ledger. The private permissioned blockchain may be configuredto record information. The recorded information may include informationpertaining to unique digital articles that are associated and/orcorrelated with in-game user-controllable characters that are configuredto be used in an instance of a game. The recorded information mayinclude ownership of the unique digital articles. Implementing thein-game actions in the instance of the game may include, for at leastsome of the in-game actions implemented in the instance of the game,effectuating modifications to the recorded information pertaining to theunique digital article. For example, ownership rights and/or otherrights may be modified. In some implementations, a unique digitalarticle may be removed from one immutable ledger and added or recordedon another immutable ledger. In some implementations, at least one ofthe immutable ledgers implemented by immutable ledger servers 111 is apublic immutable ledger. The public immutable ledger may be configuredto be part of either EOSIO mainnet, Ethereum mainnet, Ethereum 1.5,Ethereum 2.0, a derivative of Ethereum 2.0 that is configured to performtransactions of Ether (ETH) between accounts, or a derivative of EOSIOthat is configured to perform transactions of EOS between differentaccounts.

Elements of blockchain 117 a or another immutable ledger may be groupedtogether in units that are referred to as blocks. For example, anindividual block may include one or more digital articles (or digitalassets) and one or more transactions. For example, an individual blockmay be linked to one or more other individual blocks. Individual blocksmay be linked or chained together to form a structure of blocks and/or ahierarchy of blocks, such as, e.g., a chain of blocks. An individualblock may include one or more digital articles, one or moretransactions, and/or other information.

In some implementations, one or more immutable ledgers implemented byimmutable ledger servers 111 may be publicly accessible. In someimplementations, one or more immutable ledgers implemented by immutableledger servers 111 may be private and/or permissioned. In someimplementations, one or more immutable ledgers implemented by immutableledger servers 111 may be append-only. In some implementations, existingblocks of one or more immutable ledgers implemented by immutable ledgerservers 111 can substantially not be altered or deleted, unless multiplecopies are altered. This is unlikely to happen provided that themultiple copies stored on different computing platforms, e.g., indifferent geographical locations. Immutable ledgers may be replicated onmultiple computing platforms, preferably in multiple differentgeographical locations. Additionally, individual blocks may be linkedtogether in a manner that prevents tampering, such as, e.g., using ahash chain and/or digital signatures. In particular, hash values may begenerated using fixed-output-length one-way hashing functions that takevariable-length input, and may be effectively impossible (or, at least,computationally infeasible) to reverse. As such, a hashing function mayprovide one-way encryption. By way of non-limiting example, the hashingfunction may be SHA-256, BLAKE2, SHAKE256, and/or another hashingfunction. Contents of individual blocks, transactions, and/or articlesmay be digitally signed in a manner that proves integrity and/orprevents tampering, e.g., by providing authentication, as well asrepudiation.

As depicted in FIG. 1, immutable ledger server 111 a may include one ormore of electronic storage 130 b, processor(s) 132 b, machine-readableinstructions 106 b, (node of) blockchain 117 a, and/or other components.Machine-readable instructions 106 b may include one or more instructioncomponents. The instruction components may include computer programcomponents. The instruction components may include one or more of atransaction component 134, a receipt component 136, and/or otherinstruction components. In some implementations, an individual immutableledger server may be dedicated to a particular node of an immutableledger. Typically, different nodes are included in (or implemented by,or hosted by) different servers or different computer systems toincrease the safety and security of transactions on a blockchain. Theconsensus protocol used for a particular blockchain will be harder tofalsify or circumvent when the different nodes are in differentgeographical locations, on different types of computing platforms,and/or otherwise distributed and diverse. As depicted in FIG. 1,blockchain 117 a may include a unique digital article 15 (by way ofnon-limiting example, unique digital article 15 may be correlated with auser-controllable in-game character, as depicted, and ownership ofunique digital article 15 may have been recorded on blockchain 117 a, asdepicted). Immutable ledger server 111 b may include similar componentsas immutable ledger server 111 a, including but not limited toblockchain 117 b and/or other components.

Media server(s) 119 may include one or more of electronic storage 130 c,processor(s) 132 c, machine-readable instructions 106 c, and/or othercomponents. Machine-readable instructions 106 c may include one or moreinstruction components. The instruction components may include computerprogram components. The instruction components may include one or moreof a request component 139, an ownership component 141, an accesscomponent 143, and/or other instruction components. In someimplementations, an individual media server (e.g., a contentdistribution platform) may be dedicated to a particular type of mediacontent. In some implementations, one or more media servers 119 may beconfigured to provide a media-specific service to users 123. By way ofnon-limiting example, media-specific services may include YouTube™,Discord™, Instagram™, Facebook™, Patreon™, Twitch™, Substack™,SoundCloud™, and/or other services. By way of non-limiting example,media content provided by one or more media servers 119 may include oneor more of previously-recorded video messages, live-streaming videochannels, text chat channels, blog posts, previously-recorded audiocontent, live-streaming audio channels, and/or other media content. Byway of non-limiting example, a particular media server 119 may providestreaming music to users, or podcasts, or other media content.

Server(s) 102 may be configured to communicate with one or more clientcomputing platforms 104 according to a client/server architecture and/orother architectures. Client computing platform(s) 104 may be configuredto communicate with other client computing platforms via server(s) 102and/or according to a peer-to-peer architecture and/or otherarchitectures. Users may access system 100 via client computingplatform(s) 104. In some implementations, system 100 and/or immutableledger server(s) 111 may be configured to communicate with one or moreof online gaming platform(s) 105, users 123, and/or other entitiesand/or components, e.g., through one or more networks 13.

Server(s) 102 may include electronic storage 130, processor(s) 132,machine-readable instructions 106, and/or other components. Server(s)102 may be configured by machine-readable instructions 106.Machine-readable instructions 106 may include one or more instructioncomponents. The instruction components may include computer programcomponents. The instruction components may include one or more of a gamecomponent 108, an interaction component 110, an account component 112, arecording component 114, an availability component 116, a performancecomponent 118, a ledger-analysis component 120, a notification component122, a distribution component 124, an adjustment component 126, a ledgercomponent 128, a reward component 131, a presentation component 133,transaction component 134, receipt component 136, an input component135, a communication component 137, request component 139, ownershipcomponent 141, access component 143, and/or other instructioncomponents. Processor(s) 132 a, processor(s) 132 b, and processor(s) 132c may be similar to processor(s) 132 as described elsewhere in thisdisclosure, though included in administration servers 115, immutableledger servers 111, and media servers 119, respectively, as depicted inFIG. 1. Machine-readable instructions 106 a, machine-readableinstructions 106 b, and machine-readable instructions 106 c may besimilar to machine-readable instructions 106 as described elsewhere inthis disclosure, though included in administration servers 115,immutable ledger servers 111, and media servers 119, respectively, asdepicted in FIG. 1.

Game component 108 is configured to execute, via online gaming platform105, one or more instances of one or more games. An instance of a gamemay facilitate presentation of the game to users 123. For example, theinstance of the game may be an online game executed with online gamingplatform 105. Game component 108 may be configured to implement in-gameactions in the instance of the game, e.g., in response to (action)requests for the in-game actions by the users. In some implementations,game component 108 may be arranged, organized, and/or otherwise includedin online gaming platform 105. As used herein, the term “game” may referto one or more games within online gaming platform 105. In someimplementations, the game may be provided via a virtual space, and mayinclude a plurality of resource types and/or maps.

The presentation of the game may be based on the views of the game thatare determined during execution of the game, e.g., as based oninstructions and/or other input from users. In some implementations, theview may be communicated (e.g., by streaming, via object/position data,and/or other information) from online gaming platform 105, immutableledger server(s) 111, and/or other sources to client computing platforms104 for presentation to users 123. The view determined and transmittedto a given client computing platform 104 may correspond to a location inthe virtual space (e.g., the location from which the view is taken, thelocation the view depicts, and/or other locations), a zoom ratio, adimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or view parameters. Insome implementations, one or more view parameters may be selectable by auser.

The instance of the game may include a simulated space that isaccessible by users 123 by clients (e.g., client computing platforms104) that present the views of the virtual space to a user. Thesimulated space may have a topography, express ongoing real-timeinteraction by one or more users 123, and/or include one or more objectspositioned within the topography that are capable of locomotion and/ormovement within the topography. In some implementations, the topographymay be a 2-dimensional topography. In some implementations, thetopography may be a 3-dimensional topography. The topography may includedimensions of the simulated space, and/or surface features of a surfaceor objects that are native to the simulated space. In someimplementations, the topography may include a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial section of thesimulated space. In some implementations, the topography may describe avolume with one or more bodies positioned therein. The instance executedby the computer components may be synchronous, asynchronous, and/orsemi-synchronous.

Within the instance of the game, users 123 may control characters,objects, simulated physical phenomena, and/or other elements within thevirtual space to interact with the virtual space and/or each other. Thecharacters may include avatars. As used herein, the term “character” or“user character” may refer to an object or group of objects present inthe virtual space, that correspond(s) to an individual user. Aparticular user character may be controlled by the particular user withwhich it is associated. Such user characters may be referred to asuser-controlled characters. User-controlled element(s) may move throughand interact with the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in thevirtual space, other objects in the virtual space, etc.). In someimplementations, user-controlled characters may be capable of locomotionwithin the topography of the simulated space that is included in theinstance of the game. In some implementations, the topography mayinclude one or more restricted areas that are only accessible undercertain conditions. In some implementations, user-controlled elementscontrolled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/orcustomized by the given user. Individual users 123 or user accounts mayown or control an “inventory” of virtual goods and currency (e.g.,resources of the plurality of resource types) that the individual usercan use (e.g., by manipulation of a user character and/or otheruser-controlled elements) and/or other items, to perform in-game actionswithin the virtual space. By way of non-limiting illustration, users 123may include the first user and the second user that interact with onlinegaming platform 105. The first user and the second user may controldigital articles (e.g., characters) in a game hosted by online gamingplatform 105. In some implementations, account inventories may bemanaged (at least in part) using blockchain 117 a. For example,ownership rights (and/or other types of rights) of individual virtualitems included in an individual account inventory may be recorded onblockchain 117 a. In some implementations, at least some individualvirtual items (also referred to as correlated entities) may correlate toindividual unique digital articles (that may be tracked by immutableledger servers 111). In some implementations, individual accountinventories may correspond to individual smart contracts stored onblockchain 117 a.

Interaction component 110 may be configured to enable, facilitate,and/or implement in-game actions by users 123 in instances of games. Insome implementations, interaction component 110 may be configured tooperate in response to instructions and/or (action) requests by users123. Interaction component 110 may be configured to receive requestsfrom users 123, e.g., action requests to perform in-game actions in theinstance of the game. By way of non-limiting example, in-game actionsmay include one or more of performing a move, a dance, a movement, oranother action within the game, accessing a level or area within thegame, using a particular item, weapon, or another resource within thegame, participating in a particular game mode (e.g., a Battle Royalemode), join a particular mission or team, engage in a particular type ofexchange and/or challenge between players, and/or other in-game actions.For example, one or more users may interact within online gamingplatform 105 to build, create, gather, find, combine, and/or otherwisegenerate content (i.e., user-generated content). In someimplementations, a user request may request access to a particular typeor section of a store and/or marketplace within online gaming platform105.

In some implementations, operations may be accomplished by interactioncomponent 110 through user interfaces 125. In particular, operationspertaining to a particular user may be accomplished or controlled orinitiated through a particular user interface 125 of a particular clientcomputing platform 104, where the particular client computing platform104 is associated with the particular user. In other words, theparticular user may interact with an instance of a game throughinteraction component 110 and/or the particular user interface 125. Insome implementations, operations by interaction component 110 may belimited, restricted, and/or otherwise controlled by other components ofsystem 100, including but not limited to availability component 116. Insome implementations, interaction component 110 may require acceptancefrom particular users. For example, an acceptance may accept aparticular offer to partake in an activity or agreement. In someimplementations, interaction component 110 may be configured to receiveindications of acceptances and/or other agreements from users.

In some implementations, interaction component 110 may be configured tofacilitate interaction of users 123 with system 100. In someimplementations, interaction component 110 may be configured tofacilitate interaction by users 123 through user interfaces 125. Forexample, a particular user may be associated with a particular clientcomputing platform 104, which may include a particular user interface125. In other words, an individual user interface may be user-specificand/or specific to a particular client computing platform. In someimplementations, interaction component 110 may facilitate entry and/orselection through (presentation of) one or more user interfaces 125(such as, by way of non-limiting example, any of the interfacesdescribed in this disclosure).

Account component 112 is configured to manage user accounts. Useraccounts may be associated with users 123. User accounts may includeand/or be associated with account inventories of virtual items. Forexample, the user accounts may include a first user account associatedwith a first user, a second user account associated with a second user,and so forth. For example, the first user account may include a firstaccount inventory of one or more virtual items, and so forth. Individualusers may control one or more virtual items in their individual accountinventories. In some implementations, the first account inventoryincludes one or more unique digital articles (e.g., a first uniquedigital article, a second unique digital article, etc.). The firstunique digital article may be correlated with a first in-gameuser-controllable character configured to be used (e.g., played with) inthe instance of the game. The second unique digital article may becorrelated with a second in-game user-controllable character configuredto be used (e.g., played with) in the instance of the game, and soforth.

In some implementations, account component 112 may be configured tomanage user accounts that are specific to a particular online gamingplatform 105 and/or a specific game provided by the particular onlinegaming platform 105. For example, account component 112 may beconfigured to manage user accounts that are specific to one or moremedia servers 119 (and/or to a media-specific service provided throughmedia servers 119). In some implementations, an individual user may beassociated with a first user account on a particular online gamingplatform 105 and a second user account on a particular media server 119.In other words, the same user may have different user accounts foronline gaming platform(s) 105 and media server(s) 119.

Recording component 114 is configured to record articles on immutableledgers. In some implementations, recording component 114 may recordand/or modify ownership of articles. In some implementations, recordingcomponent 114 may be configured to receive (recordation) requests toperform a recordation (e.g., of a unique digital article on an immutableledger). For example, recording component 114 may receive, on behalf ofa first user, a recordation request to record and/or modify ownership ofa first unique digital article on a first immutable ledger (such as,e.g., blockchain 117 a). In some implementations, recording component114 may receive such requests from online gaming platform 105 and/orother components of system 100. For example, a particular request torecord (ownership of) a particular unique digital article may correspondto the issuance and/or creation of that particular unique digitalarticle. When a unique digital article or other digital article isissued and/or created, recording component 114 may record its ownershipon a particular immutable ledger. In some implementations, a particularrequest to modify ownership of a particular unique digital article maycorrespond to an exchange of that particular unique digital article(e.g., between two users).

Availability component 116 may be configured to determine whetherparticular action requests are available to particular users. In someimplementations, availability may require and/or other be based onownership of specific unique digital articles (or types of specificunique digital articles, and/or combinations of both). For example, thespecific availability of a specific action request (i.e., the in-gameaction requested in the specific action request) may require ownershipof a particular collection and/or combination of digital articles. Forexample, the particular combination may include unique digital articles.In some implementations, the particular combination may include one ormore of multiple unique digital articles of the same type, or issued atthe same time, or issued by a particular set of smart contracts, and/orreleased during the same drop. In some implementations, the particularcombination may include one or more of unique digital articles awardedfor participating in a particular online event, or a particularreal-world event. In some implementations, the particular combinationmay include one or more unique digital articles that have received(and/or will receive) particular distribution gains by virtue of owningparticular distribution rights. In some implementations, the particularcombination may include one or more unique digital articles that havebeen obtained through a particular type of player-to-player challengewithin an instance of a game. Different collections and/or combinationsof multiple unique digital articles are envisioned within the scope ofthis disclosure. Determinations by availability component 116 may beused to control operations by other components of system 100, includingbut not limited to interaction component 110.

In some implementations, availability component 116 may be configured todetermine whether particular users are eligible to receive one or moreparticipation rewards or attendance awards for either a particularunique digital article participating in an online event or attending anonline event (e.g., during a particular time-limited duration, orbetween a begin time and an end time of the online event).Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, availability component 116 may beconfigured to determine whether particular users are eligible to receiveone or more participation rewards or attendance awards for participatingin a real-world event or attending a real-world event (e.g., during aparticular time-limited duration). In some implementations, availabilitycomponent 116 may be configured to determine whether particular usersare eligible to receive distribution gains by virtue of owningdistribution rights for one or more particular unique digital articles.

Performance component 118 may be configured to permit and/or performrequested in-game actions, e.g., to use particular unique digitalarticles. In some implementations, permission to use a particular uniquedigital article in accordance with a particular action request may begranted based on one or more determinations by availability component116. For example, permission may be granted for certain requestedin-game actions, but not for others. For example, requested in-gameactions may be performed if requested by a first user, but not a seconduser. In some implementations, performance component 118 may permitand/or perform some types of requests, but not other types of requests.In some implementations, permission and/or performance may be preventedfor certain types of requests, unless the pertinent (required)combination of unique digital articles is currently recorded on aparticular immutable ledger as being owned by a particular user oraccount.

In some implementations, permission and/or performance by performancecomponent 118 may require not only a particular type of request, butadditionally may require the pertinent unique digital article (or otherdigital article that is not fungible) currently be recorded on aparticular immutable ledger (or type of immutable ledger). For example,a requirement for permission or performance may include recordation on aprivate permissioned immutable ledger. In some implementations, actionsby performance component 118 may be performed responsive to particularactions or results from other components of system 100, including butnot limited to availability component 116 and/or ledger-analysiscomponent 120.

Ledger-analysis component 120 may be configured to determine whether oneor more unique digital articles are recorded (on a particular immutableledger) as being owned by a particular user and/or account. For example,ledger-analysis component 120 may determine whether a first uniquedigital article is currently recorded on a private permissionedimmutable ledger. In some implementations, ledger-analysis component 120may be configured to analyze recordations and other transactions on oneor more immutable ledgers, e.g., by retrieving recorded information fromthe one or more immutable ledgers and analyzing whether any of therecorded transactions pertain to a particular unique digital article, ora set of unique digital articles. In some implementations,determinations by ledger-analysis component 120 may be performedresponsive to particular actions or results from other components ofsystem 100, including but not limited to availability component 116. Insome implementations, ledger-analysis component 120 may be configured todetermine whether ownership of a particular unique digital article (orother digital article that is not fungible) has ever been recorded on apublic immutable ledger. For example, actions by other components ofsystem 100, including but not limited to distribution component 124, maybe responsive to determinations by ledger-analysis component 120. Insome implementations, determinations by ledger-analysis component 120may occur in real-time or near-real-time as needed for a particularaction request or access request. In some implementations,determinations by ledger-analysis component 120 may occur as needed whenownership of (unique) digital articles is modified, and results of suchdeterminations are stored for later use by, e.g., online gaming platform105, e.g., to be used when responding to a future action request or afuture access request.

Notification component 122 may be configured to notify users. Forexample, notification component 122 may notify users in response toaction requests. In some implementations, a user may be notifiedresponsive to a requested in-game action (as requested through an actionrequest) not being permitted or not being performed (e.g., as determinedby performance component 118). In some implementations, actions bynotification component 122 may be performed responsive to particularactions, results, determinations, or decisions from other components ofsystem 100, including but not limited to availability component 116,performance component 118, and/or ledger-analysis component 120. Forexample, notification component 122 may respond to a particular actionrequest (by a particular user, and pertaining to a particular uniquedigital article) with a particular response such that, responsive to aparticular determination, the particular response notifies theparticular user that the particular user is not permitted.

Distribution component 124 may be configured to distribute and/orotherwise provide one or more of information, access to in-game content,access to game-specific communication channels, certificates, rewards,awards, prizes, distribution gains, and/or virtual items to users 123.Distributions by distribution component 124 may be adjusted, e.g., byadjustment component 126. In some implementations, distributions may beresponsive to determinations by reward component 131. In someimplementations, distributions may be based on and/or responsive toactions by other components of system 100, including but not limited toledger-analysis component 120. For example, online gaming platform 105may determine a particular user is eligible to receive one or morerewards or awards. Distribution component 124 may distribute the one ormore rewards or awards in accordance with the determined eligibility.For example, a reward may be a participation reward. For example, anaward may be an attendance award. For example, a certificate may be acertificate of completion or accomplishment, which may be specific toactions within the instance of the game. For example, a prize may be foreffort, time, and/or resources spent, specifically in the instance ofthe game. For example, particular unique digital articles may beassociated with distribution rights, and the particular user who ownsthose distribution rights may receive distribution gains in accordancewith those distribution rights. For example, distribution gains mayresult from a particular action or activity (such as, e.g., a sale of aparticular digital article), e.g., within the online gaming platform105, involving the particular digital article.

Adjustment component 126 may be configured to adjust and/or modifydistributions, including (planned or expected) distributions bydistribution component 124. In some implementations, adjustmentcomponent 126 may adjust and/or modify one or more certificates,rewards, awards, prizes, distribution gains, and/or virtual items thathave been determined by reward component 131 (also referred to as thedetermined distribution or the eligible distribution). Upon suchadjustment and/or modification, this determined distribution (oreligible distribution) may be referred to as the adjusted distribution.Distribution component 124 may distribute the adjusted distribution. Insome implementations, adjustments and/or modifications by adjustmentcomponent 126 may increase the value of one or more elements of theeligible distribution (this may provide a positive incentive to users).Alternatively, and/or simultaneously, adjustments and/or modificationsby adjustment component 126 may decrease the value of one or moreelements of the eligible distribution (this may provide a negativeincentive to users). In some implementations, actions by adjustmentcomponent 126 may be performed responsive to particular actions orresults from other components of system 100, including but not limitedto availability component 116 and/or ledger-analysis component 120.

Ledger component 128 may be configured to generate sets of instructionsfor immutable ledger servers 111 (e.g., immutable ledger server 111 a)and/or one or more immutable ledgers (e.g., blockchain 117 a). In someimplementations, ledger component 128 may be configured to transfer thegenerated sets of instructions to immutable ledger servers 111 and/orone or more immutable ledgers. In some implementations, one or more ofthese instructions may instruct the formation of a smart contract and/orthe recording of the smart contract on the one or more immutable ledgers(e.g., blockchain 117 a). In some implementations, one or more of theseinstructions may call and/or otherwise invoke a method or function of asmart contract on the one or more immutable ledgers (e.g., blockchain117 a). In some implementations, these instructions may instructimmutable ledger servers 111 to record and/or modify unique digitalarticles, transactions, and/or rights on one or more immutable ledgers,or to analyze ownership as recorded on the one or more immutableledgers. For example, ledger component 128 may transfer a particular setof instructions that, upon execution by blockchain 117 a, issue a newunique digital article to a particular user or particular account (i.e.,record the ownership of the new unique digital article as being owned bythe particular user or the particular account). For example, ledgercomponent 128 may transfer a particular set of instructions that, uponexecution by blockchain 117 a and blockchain 117 b, remove a particularunique digital article from blockchain 117 a and add the particularunique digital article to blockchain 117 b. For example, ledgercomponent 128 may transfer a particular set of instructions that, uponexecution by blockchain 117 a and blockchain 117 b, analyze whether aparticular user owns one or more particular unique digital articles.

Reward component 131 may be configured to determine eligibility forunique digital articles, other digital articles, accounts, and/or users123 to receive one or more of information, access to in-game content,access to game-specific communication channels, certificates, rewards,awards, prizes, distribution gains, and/or virtual items. In someimplementations, these types of determinations may be based on and/orresponsive to actions by other components of system 100, including butnot limited to ledger-analysis component 120. In some implementations,online gaming platform 105 may determine a particular user is eligibleto receive one or more rewards or awards. Distributions in accordancewith the determined eligibility may be made by distribution component124. In some implementations, (one or more elements of) such eligibledistributions may be adjusted and/or modified by adjustment component126 prior to being distributed.

Presentation component 133 may be configured to present interfaces(e.g., user interfaces 125) to users, e.g., through client computingplatforms 104 associated with the respective users. In someimplementations, presentation component 133 may be configured toeffectuate presentations of interfaces to users. The presentedinterfaces may include challenge interfaces, as described in thisdisclosure. In some implementations, presentations by presentationcomponent 133 may be performed jointly (or at least in some cooperativemanner) with one or both of game component 108 and/or interactioncomponent 110. Presentation component 133 may present offers (from otherusers) to particular users, as described elsewhere in this disclosure.

Receipt component 136 may be configured to receive (sets of)instructions to add, modify, analyze, and/or remove recorded rights inblockchain 117 a. For example, receipt component 136 may receive one ormore sets of instructions from ledger component 128, online gamingplatform 105, and/or other components of system 100. Receipt component136 may provide received sets of instructions to record component 134for execution. In some implementations, execution of individual ones ofthe instructions received may include invoking one or more functioncalls of an Application Programming Interface (API) 107. For example,API 107 may be configured to provide interactive communication betweenblockchain 117 a and other components of system 100. For example, insome implementations, API 107 may support methods or functions that areimplemented as function calls to smart contracts stored on blockchain117 a. For example, in some implementations, API 107 may support methodsor functions that analyze whether a particular user owns one or moreparticular unique digital articles, one or more particular types ofunique digital articles, and/or a particular collection of multipleunique digital articles. In some implementations, receipt component 136may be arranged, organized, and/or otherwise included in immutableledger server 111 and/or blockchain 117 a.

Transaction component 134 may be configured to record (ownership) rightspertaining to digital articles, e.g., on blockchain 117 a. In someimplementations, transaction component 134 may record rights onelectronic storage 130 b. In some implementations, transaction component134 may record rights on blockchain 117 a. The rights may includeownership rights, distribution rights, and/or other rights. For example,particular recorded rights may reflect ownership of a particular digitalarticle by a particular user or group of users. For example, aparticular unique digital article may represent a three-dimensionalin-game user-controllable item or character that can interact with othervirtual items within online gaming platform 105. Recorded rights may bespecific to a digital article (i.e., article-specific). For example,distribution rights for a particular digital article may designaterights to certain distributions of benefits upon a specifically definedin-game action (e.g., an exchange between users) involving theparticular digital article.

In some implementations, transaction component 134 may be configured torecord rights in blockchain 117 a. In some implementations, transactioncomponent 134 may add, modify, analyze, and/or remove recorded rights.For example, in accordance with received instructions from receiptcomponent 136, transaction component 134 may transfer ownership of aparticular digital article from a first owner to a second owner (e.g.,from an original owner to a new owner, or from a loser of a challenge toa winner of the challenge) such that the recorded rights on blockchain117 a no longer reflect the ownership of the particular digital articleby the first user. In some implementations, in accordance with receivedinstructions, transaction component 134 may transfer ownership of aparticular digital article temporarily, e.g., from a first owner to atemporary second owner such as a smart contract. In some case, atemporary owner may be a holding account that is merely used untilownership is transferred to either the original owner or a new owner. Asused herein, the term “temporary” (and derivatives thereof) refers to atransfer or to ownership that is either known to be changed and/ormodified within a predetermined period, or expected to be changed and/ormodified within a predetermined period. Conversely, a non-temporarytransfer from a first owner to a second owner (due to a particularexchange) can conceivably be changed and/or reverted (back from thesecond owner to the first owner) due to a separate and new exchange thatis independent of the first particular exchange. In someimplementations, in accordance with received instructions, transactioncomponent 134 may transfer ownership of a particular digital articlenon-temporarily from a first owner to a second owner, e.g., when aparticular exchange is not reversible or no longer reversible. In someimplementations, transaction component 134 may be arranged, organized,and/or otherwise included in blockchain 117 a.

In some implementations, transaction component 134 may be configured toobtain article-specific rights (e.g., ownership rights, distributionrights, and/or other rights) for particular digital articles. In someimplementations, transaction component 134 may be configured to accessblockchain 117 a to obtain the article-specific rights (that arerecorded on blockchain 117 a, e.g., in one or more smart contracts).

Input component 135 may be configured to receive user input fromadministrative users. For example, the user input may include entryand/or selection of particular information, unique digital articles,types of digital articles, virtual items, types of virtual items, and/orany entity or object that interacts with any part of system 100 and/orplays a part in the operation of system 100. For example, anadministrative user may select a particular set of unique digitalarticles (e.g., all “Camo Blankos” that have been issued) as the inputset of unique digital articles for other components of system 100, suchas availability component 116. Additionally, in some implementations,the administrative user may select a particular adjustment to be enactedby adjustment component 126 (e.g., increase the value of one or moreelements of the eligible distribution) for one or more types ofdeterminations by reward component 131 (e.g., an eligible distributionof a reward of 100 virtual coins for leveling up a unique digitalarticle in the selected set of unique digital articles). As anotherexample, the administrative user may select a different set of uniquedigital articles (e.g., all “Boss Dino Blankos” that have been issued)as the input set of unique digital articles for other components ofsystem 100. Additionally, the administrative user may select aparticular adjustment to be enacted by adjustment component 126 (e.g.,decrease the value of one or more elements of the eligible distribution)for one or more types of determinations by reward component 131 (e.g.,an eligible distribution may be receiving the distribution gains basedon particular in-game actions for unique digital articles in theselected set of unique digital articles).

Communication component 137 may be configured to facilitatecommunication and/or interaction between administration server 115 andthe rest of system 100. For example, communication component 137 maycommunicate user input received by input component 135 to othercomponents of system 100, particularly of online gaming platform 105.

Request component 139 may be configured to receive requests from users123, or on behalf of users 123. The requests may include accessrequests, requests for information, and/or other requests. Accessrequests may request to access particular media content. By way ofnon-limiting example, particular media content may include one or moreof a previously-recorded video message, a live-streaming video channel,a text chat channel, a blog post, previously-recorded audio content, alive-streaming audio channel, and/or other media content. In someimplementations, an access request may be specific to a particularaction or activity on a particular media channel. For example, aparticular access request may request to post a message or talk on aparticular Discord™ channel. In some implementations, the requestedaccess may require ownership of one or more digital articles, one ormore unique digital articles, and/or one or more types of unique digitalarticles, or any combination thereof. For example, an access request fora particular type of action on a Blanko-specific media channel mayrequire ownership of a collection of unique digital articles includingat least a first particular unique digital article and a secondparticular unique digital article (e.g., a “Camo Blanko” and a “DazzleBlanko”).

Ownership component 141 may be configured to determine whetherparticular users are recorded (and/or otherwise registered) as owningparticular digital articles, including but not limited to particularcollections of unique digital articles. Ownership component 114 may beconfigured to make determinations responsive to requests received (e.g.,by request component 139) from users. In some implementations, ownershipcomponent 141 may be configured to access one or more immutable ledgerservers 111 and/or one or more immutable ledgers (e.g., blockchain 117a) to make particular determinations. In some implementations, ownershipcomponent 141 may be configured to use ledger component 128,ledger-analysis component 120, and/or another component of system 100 tomake particular determinations.

Access component 143 may be configured to permit or deny access toparticular media content. In some implementations, access component 143may be configured to permit or deny access to particular media contentto one or more particular users. In some implementations, accesscomponent 143 may be configured to permit or deny access based ondeterminations by ownership component 141. For example, assume aparticular type of action on a Blanko-specific media channel requiresownership of a collection of unique digital articles including at leasta first particular unique digital article and a second particular uniquedigital article (e.g., a “Camo Blanko” and a “Dazzle Blanko”). Assume afirst user, who owns a “Camo Blanko” but not a “Dazzle Blanko”, requestsaccess to the Blanko-specific media channel. Responsive to adetermination by ownership component 141, access component 143 may denythe requested access. Subsequently, the first user obtains a “DazzleBlanko”, and again requests access to the Blanko-specific media channel.Responsive to another determination by ownership component 141, accesscomponent 143 may grant access as requested.

Referring to FIG. 1, user interfaces 125 may be configured to facilitateinteraction between users 123 and system 100 and/or between users 123and client computing platforms 104. For example, user interfaces 125 mayprovide an interface (e.g., a challenge interface) through which users123 may provide information to and/or receive information from system100. In some implementations, user interface 125 may include one or moreof a display screen, touchscreen, monitor, a keyboard, buttons,switches, knobs, levers, mouse, microphones, sensors to capture voicecommands, sensors to capture body movement, sensors to capture handand/or finger gestures, and/or other user interface devices configuredto receive and/or convey user input. In some implementations, one ormore user interfaces 125 may be included in one or more client computingplatforms 104. In some implementations, one or more user interfaces 125may be included in system 100. In some implementations, user interface125 may be a type of interface that facilitates the exchange of virtualitems between users.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example implementation of a user interface 300 asmay be used by system 100, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. User interface 300 may enable a particular user to viewand/or use an account inventory and/or one or more unique digitalarticles controlled by the particular user. User interface 300 mayinclude a section or field for account inventory 31, and/or othergraphical user interface elements. As depicted, account inventory 31 mayinclude a list of different virtual items and/or articles currentlycontrolled by the particular user, including virtual items 1-2-3-4-5.Account inventory 31 further depicts item information regarding thesevirtual items, as indicated by item information 1-2-3-4-5, whichcorrespond to virtual items 1-2-3-4-5, respectively. Account inventory31 as depicted may further include graphical user interface elementssuch as, by way of non-limiting example, an action button 32 (whichinitiates an action request). Upon engagement by the particular user,action request button 32 may request “virtual item 1” to be used for aparticular request by the particular user (e.g., through a text field ora dropdown menu, as indicated by a triangle in a box). For example, theparticular user may request to post information about unique digitalarticle 15 on a particular media channel (not depicted), and uniquedigital article 15 may be associated with a user-controllable in-gamecharacter that is also depicted in user interface 300. This type ofaccess request may be permitted and subsequently performed if and onlyif the particular requesting user currently owns a combination of afirst particular unique digital article (of a first type of uniquedigital articles, such as, e.g., a “Camo Blanko”) and a secondparticular unique digital article (of a second type of unique digitalarticles, such as, e.g., a “Dazzle Blanko”).

FIG. 4 illustrates an example implementation of a user interface 300 aas may be used by system 100, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. User interface 300 a is similar to user interface 300in FIG. 3. User interface 300 a in FIG. 4 may enable a particular userto view and/or use an account inventory and/or one or more uniquedigital articles controlled by the particular user. User interface 300 amay include a section or field for account inventory 31, and/or othergraphical user interface elements. As depicted, account inventory 31 mayinclude a list of different virtual items and/or articles currentlycontrolled by the particular user, including virtual items 1-2-3-4-5.Account inventory 31 further depicts item information regarding thesevirtual items, as indicated by item information 1-2-3-4-5, whichcorrespond to virtual items 1-2-3-4-5, respectively. Account inventory31 as depicted may further include graphical user interface elementssuch as, by way of non-limiting example, an action button 32. Uponengagement by the particular user, action request button 32 may request“virtual item 1” to be used for a particular request (e.g., through atext field or a dropdown menu, as indicated by a triangle in a box. Userinterface 300 a as depicted may further include graphical user interfaceelements such as, by way of non-limiting example, a notification element33 a. Upon engagement by the particular user of action request button32, and responsive to this particular request being denied, notificationelement 33 a is displayed to the particular user, labeled “You can'tpost this information unless you own both a Camo Blanko and a DazzleBlanko.” In this case, the requested access to a particular mediachannel is not permitted and the response to this particular accessrequest includes displaying notification element 33 a.

FIG. 5A illustrate exemplary blockchain 117 c as may be used by system100, in accordance with one or more implementations. FIG. 5A illustratesa blockchain 117 c that includes a block 0, a block 1, and a block 2. Astime progresses, more blocks may be added to blockchain 117 c. Theblocks within blockchain 117 c are ordered. In block 0, one article(indicated by a capital “A”) is generated and/or assigned to user “i”(U_(i)). A second digital article, a smart contract 15 a is assigned touser “a” (U_(a)), and a third digital article, a smart contract 16 a, isassigned to user “a” (U_(a)), which may be an administrative user. Forexample, smart contract 15 a and smart contract 16 a may be or includetemplates for issuing particular types of unique digital articles. Smartcontract 15 a and smart contract 16 a may have been posted to blockchain117 c by a component similar to record component 134.

For example, the articles in block 0 may be individual ownership rightsrecorded for particular digital articles within an online gamingplatform. Block 1 is connected to block 0 (as indicated by a link 50 a),for example by including an address of block 1 in block 0, or viceversa. Likewise, block 1 is connected to block 2, as indicated by a link50 b. In block 1, a transaction to smart contract 15 a (indicated by“Ax”) is recorded. Transaction Ax to smart contract 15 a may issue aunique digital article to user “p”, the unique digital article beingdefined by metadata 52 (here, correlated to a user-controllablecharacter named “Camo Blanko”, having identifier “#001”, as depicted bya linked image of unique digital article 15, as well as includingvarious other fields of information). In block 1, another transactionsfrom user “i” to user “j”, and from user “j” to user “k” are alsorecorded. In block 2, several transactions may be recorded: atransaction from user “j” to user “n”, and a transaction to smartcontract 16 a (indicated by “Ay”) is recorded. Transaction Ay to smartcontract 16 a may issue a unique digital article to user “p”, the uniquedigital article being defined by metadata 54 (here, correlated to auser-controllable character named “Dazzle Blanko”, having identifier“#010”, as depicted by a linked image of unique digital article 16, aswell as including various other fields of information). In block 2,another transaction is recorded, from user “j” to user “n”. Based on thecombination of unique digital articles owned by user “p”, a particularaccess request (to access particular media content) may be available tothe user who controls the account of user “p”.

By way of non-limiting example, FIG. 5B illustrates a blockchain 117 dthat includes several blocks (block 3, block 4, block 5), that have beenappended to blockchain 117 c. Block 3 may be connected to block 2 (asindicated by link 50 c), block 4 may be connected to block 3 (asindicated by a link 50 d), and block 5 may be connected to block 4 (asindicated by a link 50 e). In block 3, another transaction may berecorded that modifies the ownership of the unique digital article(indicated by “Ax” and defined by metadata 52) to user “q”, such thatuser “p” no longer owns a “Camo Blanko”. Block 4 includes a transaction(indicated by a capital “T”) from user “i” to user “n”. For example, thetransaction may represent a purchase of a first virtual item by user “n”from seller user “i”. Additionally, block 4 includes a transaction fromuser “p” to smart contract 15 a. For example, this transaction mayrepresent user “p” requesting access to the particular media content,and this is no longer permitted since user “p” no longer owns acombination and/or collection including both a “Camo Blanko” and a“Dazzle Blanko”. Block 5 includes a transaction from user “n” to user“k”.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some implementations, online gaming platforms105, server(s) 102, client computing platform(s) 104, administrationservers 115, immutable ledger servers 111, media servers 119, and/orexternal resources 138 may be operatively linked via one or moreelectronic communication links. For example, such electroniccommunication links may be established, at least in part, via one ormore networks 13 such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will beappreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scopeof this disclosure includes implementations in which online gamingplatforms 105, server(s) 102, client computing platform(s) 104,administration servers 115, immutable ledger servers 111, and/orexternal resources 138 may be operatively linked via some othercommunication media.

A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program components. The computer programcomponents may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 104 to interface with system 100and/or external resources 138, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platform(s) 104. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 104 mayinclude one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

Administration server(s) 115 may include one or more of servers 102 a,processors 132 a, machine-readable instructions 106 a, electronicstorage 130 a, and/or other components. Server(s) 102 a may beconfigured by machine-readable instructions 106 a. Machine-readableinstructions 106 a may include one or more instruction components. Theinstruction components may include one or more of input component 135,communication component 137, and/or other instruction components.Administration server 115 may include communication lines, or ports toenable the exchange of information with a network and/or other computingplatforms. In some implementations, administration servers 115 may beused by one or more administrative users, e.g., to configure and/orcontrol operation of system 100. In some implementations, administrativeservers 115 may include or user one or more user interfaces to receiveuser input and/or otherwise interact with one or more administrativeusers.

External resources 138 may include sources of information outside ofsystem 100, external entities participating with system 100, externalproviders of computation and/or storage services, and/or otherresources. In some implementations, some or all of the functionalityattributed herein to external resources 138 may be provided by resourcesincluded in system 100. In some implementations, external resources 138may include one or more blockchain oracles (as may be used by monitoringcomponent 118 to determine results for challenges).

Server(s) 102 may include communication lines, or ports to enable theexchange of information with a network and/or other computing platforms.Illustration of server(s) 102 in FIG. 1 is not intended to be limiting.Server(s) 102 may include a plurality of hardware, software, and/orfirmware components operating together to provide the functionalityattributed herein to server(s) 102. For example, server(s) 102 may beimplemented by a cloud of computing platforms operating together asserver(s) 102.

Electronic storage 130 may comprise non-transitory storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 130 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server(s)102 and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server(s)102 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.)or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 130 mayinclude one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., opticaldisks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape,magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-basedstorage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media(e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storagemedia. Electronic storage 130 may include one or more virtual storageresources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or othervirtual storage resources). Electronic storage 130 may store softwarealgorithms, information determined by processor(s) 132, informationreceived from server(s) 102, information received from client computingplatform(s) 104, and/or other information that enables server(s) 102 tofunction as described herein.

Processor(s) 132 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server(s) 102. As such, processor(s) 132 may include oneor more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor(s) 132 is shown in FIG. 1 asa single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor(s) 132 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor(s) 132 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. Processor(s) 132 may beconfigured to execute components 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122,124, 126, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143,and/or other components. Processor(s) 132 may be configured to executecomponents 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 131,133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143, and/or other componentsby software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware,and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processingcapabilities on processor(s) 132. As used herein, the term “component”may refer to any component or set of components that perform thefunctionality attributed to the component. This may include one or morephysical processors during execution of processor readable instructions,the processor readable instructions, circuitry, hardware, storage media,or any other components.

It should be appreciated that although components 108, 110, 112, 114,116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139,141, and/or 143 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being implemented within asingle processing unit, in implementations in which processor(s) 132includes multiple processing units, one or more of components 108, 110,112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136,137, 139, 141, and/or 143 may be implemented remotely from the othercomponents. The description of the functionality provided by thedifferent components 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126,128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143 described belowis for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting, as anyof components 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128,131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143 may provide more orless functionality than is described. For example, one or more ofcomponents 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 131,133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143 may be eliminated, andsome or all of its functionality may be provided by other ones ofcomponents 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 131,133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143. As another example,processor(s) 132 may be configured to execute one or more additionalcomponents that may perform some or all of the functionality attributedbelow to one of components 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124,126, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, and/or 143.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 to of providing gated media access basedon collections of unique digital articles, in accordance with one ormore implementations. The operations of method 200 presented below areintended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method 200 may beaccomplished with one or more additional operations not described,and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally,the order in which the operations of method 200 are illustrated in FIG.2 and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method 200 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 200 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 200.

At an operation 202, an instance of a game is executed within an onlinegaming platform to facilitate presentation of the game to users, andin-game actions are implemented in the instance of the game in responseto action requests for the in-game actions by the users. Presentation ofthe game is based on views of the game that are determined duringexecution of the instance of the game. The users include a first userand a second user. In some embodiments, operation 202 is performed by agame component the same as or similar to game component 108 (shown inFIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 204, user accounts are managed that are associated withthe users. The user accounts include account inventories of virtualitems. The user accounts include a first user account associated withthe first user and a second user account associated with the seconduser. The first user account includes a first account inventory of afirst set of virtual items. The second user account includes a secondaccount inventory of a second set of virtual items. The first usercontrols the first set of virtual items in the first account inventory.The second user controls the second set of virtual items in the secondaccount inventory. The first account inventory includes a first uniquedigital article configured to be used in the instance of the game. Thesecond account inventory includes a second unique digital articleconfigured to be used in the instance of the game. In some embodiments,operation 204 is performed by an account component the same as orsimilar to account component 112 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 206, a first set of instructions is received andexecuted to record the first ownership, by the first user, of the firstunique digital article on the immutable ledger, and a second set ofinstructions is received and executed to record the second ownership, bythe second user, of the second unique digital article on the immutableledger. In some embodiments, operation 206 is performed by a transactioncomponent and/or a receipt component the same as or similar totransaction component 134 and/or receipt component 136 (shown in FIG. 1and described herein).

At an operation 208, a first access request is received, on behalf ofthe first user, to access particular media content. The access to theparticular media content requires ownership of at least the first uniquedigital article and the second unique digital article. In someembodiments, operation 208 is performed by a request component the sameas or similar to request component 139 (shown in FIG. 1 and describedherein).

At an operation 210, it is determined whether the first user is recordedas owning both the first unique digital article and the second uniquedigital article. In some embodiments, operation 210 is performed by anownership component the same as or similar to ownership component 141(shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 212, responsive to determining the first user is notrecorded as owning both the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article, the first action request is responded to bydenying the first access request. In some embodiments, operation 212 isperformed by an access component the same as or similar to accesscomponent 143 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 214, one or more instructions are received and executedto record the second ownership, by the first user, of the second uniquedigital article on the immutable ledger. In some embodiments, operation214 is performed by a transaction component and/or a receipt componentthe same as or similar to transaction component 134 and/or receiptcomponent 136 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 216, a second access request is received, on behalf ofthe first user, to access the particular media content. In someembodiments, operation 216 is performed by a request component the sameas or similar to request component 139 (shown in FIG. 1 and describedherein).

At an operation 218, it is determined whether the first user is recordedas owning both the first unique digital article and the second uniquedigital article. In some embodiments, operation 218 is performed by anownership component the same as or similar to ownership component 141(shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

At an operation 220, responsive to determining the first user isrecorded as owning both the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article, the second access request by accepting thesecond access request and granting access to the particular mediacontent to the first user. In some embodiments, operation 220 isperformed by an access component the same as or similar to accesscomponent 143 (shown in FIG. 1 and described herein).

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It is to beunderstood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extentpossible, one or more features of any implementation can be combinedwith features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system configured to provide gated media accessbased on collections of unique digital articles, the system comprising:an online gaming platform including one or more hardware processorsconfigured by machine-readable instructions to: execute, within theonline gaming platform, an instance of a game to facilitate presentationof the game to users, and implement in-game actions in the instance ofthe game in response to action requests for the in-game actions by theusers, wherein presentation of the game is based on views of the gamethat are determined during execution of the instance of the game,wherein the users include a first user and a second user; manage useraccounts associated with the users, wherein the user accounts includeaccount inventories of virtual items, wherein the user accounts includea first user account associated with the first user and a second useraccount associated with the second user, wherein the first user accountincludes a first account inventory of a first set of virtual items,wherein the second user account includes a second account inventory of asecond set of virtual items, wherein the first user controls the firstset of virtual items in the first account inventory, wherein the seconduser controls the second set of virtual items in the second accountinventory, wherein the first account inventory includes a first uniquedigital article configured to be used in the instance of the game, andwherein the second account inventory includes a second unique digitalarticle configured to be used in the instance of the game; and generateand transfer sets of instructions to record and/or modify a firstownership of the first unique digital article and a second ownership ofthe second unique digital article; an immutable ledger server includingone or more processors configured by one or more machine-readableinstructions to: implement an immutable ledger that is an append-onlyledger; and receive and execute (i) a first set of instructions torecord the first ownership, by the first user, of the first uniquedigital article on the immutable ledger, and (ii) a second set ofinstructions to record the second ownership, by the second user, of thesecond unique digital article on the immutable ledger; a media serverthat is separate from the online gaming platform, wherein the mediaserver includes one or more particular processors configured byparticular machine-readable instructions to: receive, on behalf of thefirst user, a first access request to access particular media content,wherein the access to the particular media content requires ownership ofat least the first unique digital article and the second unique digitalarticle; determine whether the first user is recorded as owning both thefirst unique digital article and the second unique digital article;responsive to determining the first user is not recorded as owning boththe first unique digital article and the second unique digital article,respond to the first action request by denying the first access request;wherein the one or more processors included in the immutable ledgerserver are further configured to: receive and execute one or moreinstructions to record the second ownership, by the first user, of thesecond unique digital article on the immutable ledger; wherein the oneor more particular processors included in the media server are furtherconfigured to: receive, on behalf of the first user, a second accessrequest to access the particular media content; determine whether thefirst user is recorded as owning both the first unique digital articleand the second unique digital article; responsive to determining thefirst user is recorded as owning both the first unique digital articleand the second unique digital article, respond to the second accessrequest by accepting the second access request and granting access tothe particular media content to the first user.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the access to the particular media content requires ownershipof a particular collection of unique digital articles, wherein theunique digital articles in the particular collection includes at least afirst type of unique digital articles and a second type of uniquedigital articles, wherein the first type of unique digital articlesinclude the first unique digital article, and wherein the second type ofunique digital articles include the second unique digital article. 3.The system of claim 2, wherein the first type of unique digital articlesinclude a set of unique digital articles are issued by a particular setof one or more smart contracts.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein thesecond type of unique digital articles include a set of unique digitalarticles that were issued during a particular drop.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the first unique digital article is associated with afirst in-game user-controllable character that is configured to becontrolled by the first user in the instance of the game.
 6. The systemof claim 1, wherein the particular media content includes one or moreof: (i) a previously-recorded video message, (ii) a live-streaming videochannel, (iii) a text chat channel, (iv) a blog post, (v)previously-recorded audio content, and/or (vi) a live-streaming audiochannel.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more particularprocessors included in the media server are further configured to:receive a request for continued access to the particular media content;determine, at recurring intervals, whether the first user is stillrecorded as owning both the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article; responsive to determining the first user isstill recorded as owning both the first unique digital article and thesecond unique digital article, respond to the request by continuing togrant access to the particular media content to the first user; andresponsive to determining the first user is no longer recorded as owningboth the first unique digital article and the second unique digitalarticle, respond to the request by removing access to the particularmedia content to the first user.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein theaccess to the particular media content requires ownership of at leastthe first unique digital article, the second unique digital article, anda third unique digital article.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thethird type of unique digital article includes a set of unique digitalarticles that have received one or more participation rewards forparticipating in an online event during a particular time-limitedduration, or participating in a real-world event during the particulartime-limited duration, or both.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein thethird type of unique digital article includes a set of unique digitalarticles that have received particular distribution gains by virtue ofowning particular distribution rights.
 11. A method of providing gatedmedia access based on collections of unique digital articles, the methodcomprising: executing, within an online gaming platform, an instance ofa game to facilitate presentation of the game to users, and implementingin-game actions in the instance of the game in response to actionrequests for the in-game actions by the users, wherein presentation ofthe game is based on views of the game that are determined duringexecution of the instance of the game, wherein the users include a firstuser and a second user; managing user accounts associated with theusers, wherein the user accounts include account inventories of virtualitems, wherein the user accounts include a first user account associatedwith the first user and a second user account associated with the seconduser, wherein the first user account includes a first account inventoryof a first set of virtual items, wherein the second user accountincludes a second account inventory of a second set of virtual items,wherein the first user controls the first set of virtual items in thefirst account inventory, wherein the second user controls the second setof virtual items in the second account inventory, wherein the firstaccount inventory includes a first unique digital article configured tobe used in the instance of the game, and wherein the second accountinventory includes a second unique digital article configured to be usedin the instance of the game; receiving and executing (i) a first set ofinstructions to record the first ownership, by the first user, of thefirst unique digital article on an immutable ledger, and (ii) a secondset of instructions to record the second ownership, by the second user,of the second unique digital article on the immutable ledger, whereinthe immutable ledger is an append-only ledger; receiving, by a mediaserver that is separate from the online gaming platform, on behalf ofthe first user, a first access request to access particular mediacontent, wherein the access to the particular media content requiresownership of at least the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article; determining whether the first user is recordedas owning both the first unique digital article and the second uniquedigital article; responsive to determining the first user is notrecorded as owning both the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article, responding to the first action request bydenying the first access request; receiving and executing one or moreinstructions to record the second ownership, by the first user, of thesecond unique digital article on the immutable ledger; receiving, by themedia server, on behalf of the first user, a second access request toaccess the particular media content; determining whether the first useris recorded as owning both the first unique digital article and thesecond unique digital article; responsive to determining the first useris recorded as owning both the first unique digital article and thesecond unique digital article, responding to the second access requestby accepting the first access request and granting access to theparticular media content to the first user.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the access to the particular media content requires ownership ofa particular collection of unique digital articles, wherein the uniquedigital articles in the particular collection includes at least a firsttype of unique digital articles and a second type of unique digitalarticles, wherein the first type of unique digital articles include thefirst unique digital article, and wherein the second type of uniquedigital articles include the second unique digital article.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the first type of unique digital articlesinclude a set of unique digital articles are issued by a particular setof one or more smart contracts.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thesecond type of unique digital articles include a set of unique digitalarticles that were issued during a particular drop.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the first unique digital article is associated with afirst in-game user-controllable character that is configured to becontrolled by the first user in the instance of the game.
 16. The methodof claim 11, wherein the particular media content includes one or moreof: (i) a previously-recorded video message, (ii) a live-streaming videochannel, (iii) a text chat channel, (iv) a blog post, (v)previously-recorded audio content, and/or (vi) a live-streaming audiochannel.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving arequest for continued access to the particular media content;determining, at recurring intervals, whether the first user is stillrecorded as owning both the first unique digital article and the secondunique digital article; responsive to determining the first user isstill recorded as owning both the first unique digital article and thesecond unique digital article, responding to the request by continuingto grant access to the particular media content to the first user; andresponsive to determining the first user is no longer recorded as owningboth the first unique digital article and the second unique digitalarticle, responding to the request by removing access to the particularmedia content to the first user.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein theaccess to the particular media content requires ownership of at leastthe first unique digital article, the second unique digital article, anda third unique digital article.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein thethird type of unique digital article includes a set of unique digitalarticles that have received one or more participation rewards forparticipating in an online event during a particular time-limitedduration, or participating in a real-world event during the particulartime-limited duration, or both.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein thethird type of unique digital article includes a set of unique digitalarticles that have received particular distribution gains by virtue ofowning particular distribution rights.